How I learned to love Flat Diapers in the midst of Chaos

Frugality has never been as important in my life as it is right now.  No need to go into details, but things are not good financially for us at this time period (which is not unique for Americans today unfortunately).  So when my clothes washer died, and my bathroom sink fell out of the vanity, I was teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

How am I going to continue to cloth diaper my infant WITHOUT A WASHING MACHINE?

Enter, the flat diapers.

I have had numerous conversations with my grandmother about her bleaching, boiling and hanging out the cloth diapers when my mother was a baby so I new I could handle this. And even better, I still have a dryer so even though it has been snowing ALL MONTH I could still DRY diapers, just not wash them mechanically.  By the way, the washer died during a large load of prefolds, which had to be rinsed twice in the bathtub and hang wrung before putting in the dryer. Awesome.

So I started using the flat diapers on V.  I have decided origami fold doesn't work for us, but kite fold is not so terrible, and her slightly tight ProWraps Classic "small" diaper covers hold them nicely.  The diapers are compact, travel well and, hand wash pretty easily!

I had to use the kitchen sink since the bathroom sink is now residing on the floor of my basement. I would use an old nail brush and running water to scrub off any poop, then fill the sink with about 1-2 gallons of warm water and a very small amount (a quick squirt) of Dr. Bronner's Baby Castile Soap.  Then I would agitate the diapers and scrub with the nail brush any stains.  Once everything appeared clean I would rinse twice, then put them all in my super huge Emeril Stock Pot and boil them until my house smelled like wet cotton.  I also used this technique with the prefolds a few times, but they are so thick and absorbent it was exhausting and very hard on my hands and wrists to wring them out.

Diaper covers got scrubbed in the sink and rinsed, but not boiled. That would destroy them.

The end result was fine.  Obviously I ended up spending a lot more time with the diapers than normal, but they got perfectly clean and the flat diapers dry almost immediately.  The last bunch I hand washed I actually hung on a drying rack in my kitchen and they were ready in the morning.

I will admit that I have been bringing my laundry to my parents' house since the washer broke at least every three days and that has reduced the need to hand wash, but now I know I can and that it is perfectly manageable.  I have also decided to stock the diaper bag with flat diapers almost exclusively as they are so compact and easy when out and about. The bag is lighter, the ziplock bags I use as wet bags don't fill up as quickly, and because they are less absorbent she tells me immediately when she needs to be changed.

All in all, I've decided flat diapers definitely have a place in my cloth diapering experience and I am glad I got them. I'm still not sold on the econobum diaper covers though, it will take me a while to love them, if ever.

Econo-Bum One Size Diaper Cover

So when it was time to order next size up diaper covers for my growing weed of a daughter, my site of choice Cotton Babies did not have the LiteWraps I mentioned in an earlier post in stock in her size!  This was very distressing until I decided to try their own econobum covers, which are supposed to "snap to fit" up to 35lbs, and are made in the USA!

I got the covers yesterday with my previously mentioned birdseye flats.  So far they have worked, but we haven't had a poopy blow-out yet.  The cover feels a bit thin, which would work for those parents who like a trimmer look.  They do not have a double gusset around the leg, so that might be a problem with a large bowel movement.  Also they feel like they could tear around the snaps.  And the waist isn't very elasticized so it gaps a bit in front.  All in all, I'm still happier with the LiteWrap as far as feel and function.  But, if these do in fact work, they will end up being more economical as they get larger as she grows, unlike the LiteWraps which have to be purchased to size.  Also there's no velcro/aplix/touch tape to wear out or gather lint.  And they appear quite breathable and light.

When V wakes up this morning I will be trying an entirely new set up on her, the flat diaper folded origami style, and the econo-bum cover.  I have "skinny" pants for her to wear that are difficult to get over the prefolds, so this is a real test.

Flat Cloth Diapers

I have just origami folded my first dozen birdseye cotton flat diapers.  I have a ridiculous sense of accomplishment as I look at this compact pile of white fabric and wonder if these diapers will be as absorbent and soft as I've read.

So why did I add to my diaper stash with something so basic and old fashioned?

Apparently, and so far this is all from what I've read as V is sleeping and I haven't tried one on her yet, these diapers absorb wonderfully, wash in a jiffy and dry faster than you can believe.  These are supposed to be "the diapers" for camping or traveling as they can actually be hand-washed and then line dried.  Even if they are machine wash and dried, because they are single ply, they will use much less water and energy to get clean.  And honestly, my pile of a dozen is so compact I can't believe it.  My poor diaper bag is always stuffed near to bursting when I go to my parents' house for the day with just nine prefolds.

Now the "trimness" of a cloth diaper has never really been an issue for me since I think poofy diaper butt is adorable and a nice padded buffer for when she starts walking, and falling.  But if these work, they will be the trimmest option we have and might fit better under some of her clothes.

As for the frugal part of this equation, if you look around the internet, you can get twelve for less than $15.00.

I do not recommend the cloth diapers found at big box stores with the cute baby on the label.  You know the brand, it's associated with cute babies and has food, clothing and accessory lines.  I don't want to name it and give them advertising. The quality of those diapers is appalling.  Their prefolds couldn't absorb anything.  If you must use them, use them as burp cloths or dust rags.